Kudrin says his refusal to work in Medvedev-led Cabinet is well thought-out
MOSCOW. Sept 27 (Interfax) - Alexei Kudrin, a former Russian deputy prime minister and finance minister, has said his statement in Washington on refusing to work in a future government led by Dmitry Medvedev, which cost him the office, was well-considered and balanced.
"My statement about the fact that I do not see myself as a member of a 2012 Cabinet of ministers was well thought-out and balanced," Kudrin said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Despite my numerous objections, including those made in public, decisions definitely increasing risks of budget implementation have been made over several months. Budget risks related primarily to excessive commitments in the defense and social sectors would inevitably expand to the entire national economy. I discussed my desire to resign with the prime minister in February this year. My resignation was then considered undesirable, particularly due of a tense situation caused by the fact that a budget process overlaps an election process this year. My participation in the future arrangement of the Russian executive branch has not been discussed," the statement says.